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W. H. STARING VOTING MACHINE Filed 00 28, 1926 Snuenfoz arrow;

Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. STARING, OEWILLOUGHBY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC REGISTERING MACHINE COMPANY,INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VOTING MACHINE Application filed October28, 1926.

This invention relates to an improvement in voting machines, and moreparticularly in voting machines of the type shown in the patent toLausterer, No. 1,189,837, in which the votes are recorded by countermechanism,

which is in a compartment at the back of the voting machine, closed by adoor.

Prior to this invention, when the polls are closed the door to thecompartment is opened, and the result shown by the counter mechanism isnoted. When the compartment is thus open the counter mechanism isunprotected, and the primary object of this invention is to avoid thisby providing means which guard it, while it is being inspected for thepurpose of ascertaining the vote.

Another object of this invention is to provide means necessitating thecomplete protection of the counters before the voting machine can belocked by the custodian.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for covering thecustodians lock, which means cannot be removed withoutimmediatedetection.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings which form apart thereof, and in which Fig.1 illustrates an elevation of the rear ofa voting machine equipped with this invention;

- Fig.2 is a sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, showing certain mechanism; and

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of another part of the mechanism.

The counter mechanism in the compartment at the rear of the machineincludes a panel 10, through which the dials of a plurality'of counters11 are exposed. It will be understood, of course, that during theoperation of the machine these dials are actuated so that an examinationof the counters 11 will disclose the number of votes cast for eachcandidate.

Mounted in'channels 12, 13, in front of the panel 10 are a pair of glassplates 15, through which the counters 11 can readily be observed, and bywhich the counters are fully protected. When the machine is being SerialNo. 144,838.

prepared for voting the plates 15 are slid in the channels 12, 13, toallow the election officers to set the counters back to zero.

Fixed upon and depending from a shelf 16, on which the channels 12, 13rest is a. bracket 17 having a vertical slot 18 therein. An angle plate19 is secured to the bracket 17 by a pin 20, which extends through theslot 18, thus permitting the reciprocation of the angle plate withreference to the bracket. Pins 21, 22, mounted on the upper arm of theangle plate 19, project through apertures 23 into the channels 12, 13,the pin 21 entering the outer channel 13 and the pin 22 entering theinner channel 12.

Obviously, when the plates 15 are closed and the angle plate 19 is inthe raised position, the pins 21, 22 in front of the plates preventtheir movement in one direction. The movement of the plates 15 in theother direction is prevented by covers 24, which close the spacesbetween the plates 15 and the side walls of the casing 25. Thus, whenthe covers 24 are in place and the pins 21, 22 are raised the glassplates cannot be moved in either direction.

Below the counter compartment just described is a compartment closed bya door 26 which is mounted to swing upwardly on hinges 27. The door26 issecured in the closed position by a key actuated lock 28, cu tomarilyreferred to as the custodians lock. This is the final lock for themachine, the key for which is customarily held by the custodian of theelection or the chief clerk, and is not in the possession of theelection otficers at the booth.

In order to insure the locking of the glass plates 15 the reciprocableplate 19 is provided with an offset flange 29, having an opening 30therethrough. On the rear face of the door 26 is fixed a stud 31, which,when the door is closed and the plate 19 is raised, will enter theaperture 30. When, however, the plates 15 are open the pins 21, 22 willbe under the plates, and hence the angle plate 19 will be depressed, sothat the stud 31 will strike against the flange 29, and thus prevent theclosing of the door 26 until the plates 15 are closed and the plate 19raised.

As a further protection to the lock 28, a plate 32 is pivotally mountedat 33, on the door, which plate, when in its upright position willcompletely cover and protect the key hole 34 of the look. A flange 35,bent upwardly from the plate 32, is provided with a slot 36, throughwhich a pin 37 carried by the door 26 projects. When the cover plate 32has been raised over the keyhole 34:, the pin 37 will project throughthe slot 36 in the flange 35. The plate 32 is fixed in this position bya wire passed through a hole 38 in the pin 37, and provided with a seal39. Obviously, therefore, before the glass plates 15 can be moved fromtheir protecting positions, the seal -39-must be broken and the lock 28unlocked, so that the door 26 can be opened and the plate 19 lowered.

Hence, in a voting machine embodying this invention, when thecompartment is opened for an inspection of the'counters 11 the plates 15permit a free inspection, while at the same time they prevent anunauthorized handling of the counters. Moreover, not until the seal 39has been broken and the lock 28 unlocked by the custodian can the plates15 be moved and the counters reached.

The lowerchannels l2 and 13 are made in two sections, those at the rightdesignated as 12a and 13a being removable in order to permit theinsertion or removal otthe glass plates 15. The sections 12a and 13a aresecured in place .by pins 40, rigidly fixed to the underside of thesections by riveting or other means, which pins 40 project throughapertures d1 suitably located in the shelf It lVhile one embodiment ofthis invention has been shown and described, applicant is not limitedthereto, since it'is obvious that other embodiments can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope otthis invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting'machine having a compartment, channels fixed in andadjacentone wall of said compartment, plates slidable in said channels,and reciprocable pins in said channels, which pins in one positionpermit and in another position prevent the movement of said plates, whensaid plates close said compartment.

2. In a voting machine having a compartment, channels fixed in andadjacentone wall of said compartment, plates slidable in said channels,an angleplate'slidably mounted in said machine below said channels, pinsfixed on said angle plate, said channels having apertures through whichsaid pins project when said fang le plate is raised to prevent themovementof said plates in said channels, when said plates close saidcompartment.

3. In a voting'machine having a plurality of compartments, means forclosing both said compartments, and means including a plate and aplurality of pins, preventing the closure or one compartment until theother compartment is closed.

at. In a voting machine having a plu 'ality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment, a door to close the other of said compartments, andmeans to prevent the closing of said door until said plates close saidfirst named compartment.

5. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment, a door to close the other of said compartments, andslidable means including an angle plate and a plurality of pins toprevent the closing of said door until said plates close said firstnamed compartment.

6. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment, 0. door hinged to said machine to close the other ofsaid compartments, and means preventing the closing of said door whensaid slidable plates are open.

7. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment, a door hinged to :said machine to close the other ofsaid compartments, and means actuated by said plates to prevent theclosing of said door when said slidable plates are open, said meansalsolocking'saidplatesclosed when said door is closed.

8. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to'closesaidcompartment, a door hinged to :said machine to close the OtlIGI Ofsaid compartments, and means preventing the closing of said door whensaid slidable plates are open,'and locking saidplates closed whensaiddoor is closed, said means=including a plate slidably supported by saidchannel, and a'plurality of pins.

9. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment,'a door hinged to said machine to close the other ofsaid compartments, and means preventing the closing of said door whensaid slidable plates are open, andlockingsaid plates closed when saiddoor is closed, said-means includ ing a plate slidably supportedbvsaidchannel, a plurality of pins onsaid plate and a pin on said door, whichenters an aperturein said plate.

10. In a voting machine having a plurality of compartments, channels inone of said compartments, and plates slidable in said channels to closesaid compartment, a door hinged to said machine to close the other ofsaid compartments, and means preventing the closing of said door whensaid slidable plates are open, and locking said plates closed when saiddoor is closed, said means includ ing a bracket depending from saidchannels, a plate slidably supported by said bracket and provided Withan aperture, pins fixed on said plates to project through apertures insaid channels in front of said sliding plates, and a pin on said doorwhich enters the aperture in said plate, when said plate is raised, andsaid pins project into said channels to prevent movement of said plates.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM H. STARING.

